Bradley contemted for a few seconds before saying, "Forget it. Let''s not tell Eli. He didn''t dwell on why he felt reluctant to inform Elijah.


    Cameron nodded. After all, this was Bradley''s estate, so the decision was his to make.


    Bradley replied to Elijah: [Yeah, I haven''t seen him either. Maybe he''s just busy?)


    The message only deepened Elijah''s unease. He thought, ''What if something happened to Cameron? After all, he had attempted suicide before. And now he''d vanished from Noble Vista without warning...


    Elijah immediately dialed Cameron''s number.


    No sooner had Bradley set his phone down than Cameron''s


    "Elijah is calling me," Cameron said, ncing at the screen.


    Bradley noticed how Cameron addressed Elijah and frowned slightly, but he just gave a slight nod for Cameron to answer.


    Cameron picked up, putting it on speaker. "Hey, Elijah."


    "Cameron, where are you right now?" Elijah''s voice was cautious.


    "I''m out right now. What''s up?"


    "Nothing, I just wanted to check in. Are you okay?"


    "I''m fine, Elijah. Don''t worry. I''ll be back at school tomorrow night."


    There was a pause before Elijah continued, "Cameron, can I ask where you''ve been these past two days?"


    Cameron didn''t respond right away.


    Elijah backtracked instantly. "Never mind. If you don''t want to say it, it''s totally fine. I just need to know that you''re safe."


    Cameron said, "Thanks. I am."


    "Alright then. See you tomorrow." Even in his care, Elijah knew boundaries, never pressing too far.


    Cameron hung up.


    Bradley had been watching her quietly the entire time. Now that the call was over, he finally spoke. "Cameron, can I ask you something?"


    Cameron looked slightly surprised but nodded. “Sure.”


    Bradley adjusted his sses, eyes unreadable behind the lenses. "Why do you call Elijah by his name? And Xander, too. But with Austin, you only ever use


    ''Aus''?"


    His tone was calm, neither using nor overly curious.


    Cameron blinked. She hadn''t expected that question at all. In fact, until Bradley brought it up, she had never even noticed the distinction.


    Confused, she asked, "Brad, what''s wrong with that?”


    Bradley met her gaze. "Don''t you think your way of addressing Austin is overly familiar?"


    Cameron thought, ''Since when is a nickname overly familiar?''


    Seeing her confusion, Bradley added, "I assumed you were closer to Eli. After


    all, you are roommates and desk mates


    Cameron shrugged. "We get along fine."


    Bradley took a sip of water, then asked, "What about Austin?"


    Cameron didn''t hesitate. "I guess I pity him a little." Like she had pitied herself in her previous life.


    Bradley nodded with a faint smile. "I understood."


    "You''re observant." Cameron flipped the potato slices on the grill. "I hadn''t even realized it before."


    Bradley raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"